Proposal to include Saker Falcon on Appendix 1 of the Convention on Migratory Species

BirdLife Internatiional is supporting the proposal at the Tenth Conference of Parties of Convention of Migratory Species (CMS COP10) for listing Saker Falcon on the CMS list of Endangered Migratory Species, often referred to as "CMS Appendix 1". Only migratory species that have been categorised as being in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant proportion of their range are listed on Appendix I of the Convention.

CMS Member states have to strive towards strictly protecting any animal on Appendix 1, conserving or restoring the habitats in which they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them. As the IUCN Red List Authority for birds, BirdLife International has assessed the Red List status of the Saker Falcon as Vulnerable on the 2011 IUCN Red List, unchanged from 2010.

This is because of evidence for a continuing rapid population decline (32% over three generations or almost 20 years), particularly on the central Asian breeding grounds. The decline is due to unsustainable capture for the falconry trade, as well as habitat degradation and the impacts of agrochemicals. It is BirdLife’s view that the Saker Falcon should remain on Appendix 1 until independent peer reviewed evidence demonstrates that it is no longer threatened with extinction.